Steps To Boost Security On iPhone and iPad – The Complete Guide

Here’s how you can boost the security on your iPhone and iPad in a few easy steps and make sure that your data doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.

Boosting Your iPhone And iPad’s Security Is Easy, And We’ll Walk You Through Everything Necessary

Personal data and privacy have turned into mighty huge concerns these days, and are something which everyone wants to lay their hands on, even the authorities. But thankfully, there are steps you can take to make sure that your personal data remains personal at all costs and doesn’t feel into hands of those who might have ill intentions.

Without further ado, pick up your iPhone or iPad and let’s get started.

Use Touch ID

We highly recommend that you set up Touch ID on your iPhone or iPad if it supports it. Biometric authentication is near impossible to crack and goes a long way in protecting your data.

To set it up, go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and under the Fingerprints section tap on on ‘Add a Fingerprint.’ iOS will walk you through the process of registering your fingerprint and you’ll be done in a matter of seconds rather than minutes.

Use An Alphanumeric Or 6-digit Passcode

We’re pretty sure that you have a passcode in place, but at the same time we’re certain that it’s a 4-digit one. Not exactly effective if you’re asking us.

What can you do to step up your game? Well, you go for a 6-digit passcode that’s far more tougher to guess, or step things up a notch by using an alphanumeric passcode.

To set up a 6-digit passcode or an alphanumeric one, launch Settings > Touch ID & Passcode, tap on Turn Passcode On (or ‘Change Passcode’ if you have one in place already). Once the passcode screen pops up, tap on ‘Passcode Options.’ Now select either ‘Custom Alphanumeric Code’ or ‘6-digit Numeric Code.’

Erase On-Device Data Automatically After Failed Passcode Attempts

Although your iPhone or iPad will go into a lockdown if someone tries to enter a wrong passcode multiple times. But wouldn’t it be great if the device automatically erases itself if someone tries to enter the passcode wrong 10 times? You can set up your iPhone or iPad to do that as well.

Launch the Settings app, then go to Touch ID & Passcode, scroll all the way down and turn the ‘Erase Data’ toggle switch to the ON position. Tap on ‘Enable’ to go ahead with your choice.

Use Two-Factor Authentication For Everything

From your Apple ID to your common social media and email accounts, make sure that you have two-factor authentication in place for just about everything that supports it. You can’t imagine how useful it is, and you will never lose your account from the grip of your own hands, until or unless someone forces you to hand it over. In that case learn martial arts, nothing else.

For more details on two-factor authentication for your Apple ID, click here.

Use Apple Pay More Often For Making Transactions

Apple Pay is secure and nothing is shared with the merchant during a transaction, hence practice to use it more often, given that your region supports Apple Pay in the first place.

Avoid Open Networks And Use VPN When Out And About

Absolutely avoid open WiFi networks (those without a security key) in public. Even if you do choose to use them, open or not, make sure that everything is routed through a secure tunnel. In other words, top off things with a VPN connection.

A VPN is very handy when it comes to protecting your data over WiFi, and it basically turns you invisible on a particular network.

Use A Good Password Managing App Like 1Password

Personally, I’ve seen people use the native Notes app to actually save their passwords for recalling at a later date. Not cool, and not safe at all. So what can you do? Use an app like 1Password for iOS instead to save all your passwords in one place. It’s safe. It’s secure. It will definitely bring you peace of mind. And oh, it’s free to download on iOS as well.

Make Sure Find My iPhone Is Enabled At All Times

If your iPhone or iPad is stolen there’s absolutely nothing you can do to get it back until or unless you involve necessary authorities, since taking things into your hands is absolutely risky. All of that aside, your device should be ready to be remotely located and erased in case you know for a fact that your cherished investment will never ever see the light of day again. So make sure that Find My iPhone is up and running on your device.

Go to Settings > iCloud > Find My iPhone, and then turn the ‘Find My iPhone’ and ‘Send Last Location’ switches to the ON position. From here on in whenever you lose your device you can remotely locate it either using the ‘Find My iPhone’ app on another iOS device, or iCloud.com. You also have the option to ping the device to make a sound, or erase it remotely altogether.

Did we miss something in our guide? Then please be free to point it out in the comments section below. We love to hear ideas directly from our readers.